U.S. patent application number 13/669087 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-08 for formulations of solutions and processes for forming a substrate including an arsenic dopant.
This patent application is currently assigned to DYNALOY, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is DYNALOY, LLC. Invention is credited to Spencer Erich Hochstetler, Junjia Liu, Peter Borden Mackenzie, Leslie Shane Moody, Kimberly Dona Pollard.
Application Number | 20140124896 13/669087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50621584 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140124896 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hochstetler; Spencer Erich ;
et al. |
May 8, 2014 |
FORMULATIONS OF SOLUTIONS AND PROCESSES FOR FORMING A SUBSTRATE
INCLUDING AN ARSENIC DOPANT
Abstract
Formulations of solutions and processes are described to form a
substrate including a dopant. In particular implementations, the
dopant may include arsenic (As). In an embodiment, a dopant
solution is provided that includes a solvent and a dopant. In a
particular embodiment, the dopant solution may have a flashpoint
that is at least approximately equal to a minimum temperature
capable of causing atoms at a surface of the substrate to attach to
an arsenic-containing compound of the dopant solution. In one
embodiment, a number of silicon atoms at a surface of the substrate
are covalently bonded to the arsenic-containing compound.
Inventors: |
Hochstetler; Spencer Erich;
(Kingsport, TN) ; Pollard; Kimberly Dona;
(Anderson, IN) ; Moody; Leslie Shane; (Johnson
City, TN) ; Mackenzie; Peter Borden; (Kingsport,
TN) ; Liu; Junjia; (Kingsport, TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DYNALOY, LLC |
Kingsport |
TN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DYNALOY, LLC
Kingsport
TN
|
Family ID: |
50621584 |
Appl. No.: |
13/669087 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
257/607 ;
252/500; 438/542; 556/72; 556/75 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07F 9/78 20130101; H01L
21/228 20130101; H01L 21/2225 20130101; H01L 29/66803 20130101;
C07F 9/70 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
257/607 ;
252/500; 556/72; 556/75; 438/542 |
International
Class: |
C07F 9/78 20060101
C07F009/78; C07F 9/70 20060101 C07F009/70; H01B 1/12 20060101
H01B001/12 |
Claims
1. A process, comprising: preparing a solution including a dopant
and a solvent, the dopant including arsenic; and contacting a
substrate with the solution, wherein the solution has a flashpoint
that is at least approximately equal to or greater than a minimum
temperature capable of causing attachment between at least a
portion of atoms of the substrate and an arsenic-containing
compound of the solution in a duration of no greater than 2.5
hours.
2. The process of claim 1, further comprising treating a surface of
the substrate to produce a modified surface of the substrate.
3. The process of claim 2, wherein the modified surface of the
substrate includes at least a portion of a plurality of silicon
atoms at the surface being bonded to hydrogen atoms.
4. The process of claim 2, wherein the modified surface of the
substrate includes at least a portion of a plurality of silicon
atoms at the surface being bonded to a respective linking
moiety.
5. The process of claim 1, wherein the arsenic-containing compound
includes an organoarsenic compound, and contacting the substrate
with the solution includes covalently bonding the organoarsenic
compound to at least a portion of a plurality of silicon atoms at a
surface of the substrate.
6. The process of claim 4, wherein the arsenic-containing compound
includes an organoarsenic compound, and contacting the substrate
with the solution includes covalently bonding the organoarsenic
compound to at least a portion of the respective linking
moieties.
7. The process of claim 1, further comprising adding the dopant to
the substrate.
8. The process of claim 7, wherein adding the dopant to the
substrate includes annealing the substrate.
9. The process of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes silicon,
germanium, or a combination thereof.
10. A solution comprising: a solvent; and an arsenic-containing
compound; wherein the solution has a flashpoint that is at least
approximately equal to a minimum temperature capable of initiating
a reaction between the solution and silicon within a duration of no
greater than 2.5 hours.
11. The solution of claim 10, wherein the solvent includes
4-hydroxy butanoic acid, a glycol ether (e.g., di-ethylene glycol
di-butyl ether, tetra-ethylene glycol di-methyl ether
(tetraglyme)), 4-formylmorpholine, phenylacetic acid, a C9 alcohol,
a C10 alcohol, 3-nonanone, phenylpropyl ether, dimethylsulfoxide
(DMSO), cyclooctanone, furfuryl acetone, isophorone, di-hexyl
ether, 2-nonanone, phenyl propyl ether, hexyl benzene, mesitylene,
N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), an alkanolamine, acetonitrile, toluene,
dioxane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), or combinations thereof.
12. The solution of claim 10, wherein the flashpoint of the
solution is within a range of about 50.degree. C. to about
115.degree. C.
13. The solution of claim 10, wherein the solution includes the
arsenic-containing compound within a range of about 2 wt % to about
11 wt % of the total weight of the solution.
14. A substrate comprising: a surface having a plurality of silicon
atoms; and an arsenic-containing compound covalently bonded to at
least a portion of the plurality of the silicon atoms.
15. The substrate of claim 14, wherein the substrate includes a
plurality of layers of one or more arsenic-containing compounds
covalently bonded to the at least a portion of the plurality of
silicon atoms.
16. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00045##
17. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00046##
18. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00047##
19. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00048##
20. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00049##
21. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00050##
22. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00051##
23. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00052##
24. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00053##
25. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00054##
26. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00055##
27. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00056##
28. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00057## wherein,
R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each, independently, include a hydrocarbyl
group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group; R.sup.1
and R.sup.2 collectively form a bridging group; E.sup.1, E.sup.2,
and E.sup.3, each, independently, include N, O, or S atoms; G1
includes a group linking E1, E.sup.2, and E.sup.3; and G.sup.1
includes a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a
silyl group.
29. The composition of matter of claim 28, wherein E.sup.1,
E.sup.2, E.sup.3, or a combination thereof, includes N, and N is
further substituted by hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted
hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group.
30. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00058## wherein
R.sup.3 includes a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl
group, or a silyl group; E.sup.4, E.sup.5, E.sup.6, and E.sup.7
each, independently, include O, S, or N; G.sup.2 and G.sup.3 are
residues of moieties that comprise E.sup.4 and E.sup.5, and E.sup.6
and E.sup.7, respectively; G.sup.2 and G.sup.3 include a
hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl
group; wherein the moiety or moieties borne by at least one of
R.sup.3, G.sup.2, and G.sup.3 is selected from a group consisting
of: a terminally unsaturated hydrocarbyl group; a carboxylate ester
group, an activated ester group, an arsonic acid; an alkene
conjugated to at least one ketone, an alkene conjugated to at least
one aldehyde group, a an alkene conjugated to at least one cyano
group, an alkene conjugated to at least one nitro group, an alkene
conjugated to at least one sulfonyl group, an alkene conjugated to
at least one carboxylic ester group, an alkene conjugated to at
least one activated ester group, and an alkene conjugated to at
least one arsonic acid group.
31. The composition of matter of claim 30, wherein the E.sup.4,
E.sup.5, E.sup.6, E.sup.7, or a combination thereof, include N, and
N is further substituted by hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a
substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group.
32. A composition of matter comprising: ##STR00059## wherein
R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each, independently, include hydrogen, a
hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl
group, wherein E.sup.8 and E.sup.9 each, independently, represent
O, S, or N, wherein G.sup.4 is a group linking E.sup.8 and E.sup.9
and, G.sup.4 includes a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted
hydrocarbyl group, a silyl group, an alkenyl group, or an alkynyl
group, and wherein one or more moieties borne by at least one of
R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and G.sup.4 is selected from a group consisting
of: a terminally unsaturated hydrocarbyl group; a carboxylate ester
group, an activated ester group, an arsonic acid; an alkene
conjugated to at least one ketone, an alkene conjugated to at least
one aldehyde group, a an alkene conjugated to at least one cyano
group, an alkene conjugated to at least one nitro group, an alkene
conjugated to at least one sulfonyl group, an alkene conjugated to
at least one carboxylic ester group, an alkene conjugated to at
least one activated ester group, and an alkene conjugated to at
least one arsonic acid group.
33. The composition of matter of claim 32, wherein E.sup.8,
E.sup.9, or a combination thereof, includes N, and N is further
substituted by hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted
hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group.
34. The process of claim 1, wherein the arsenic-containing compound
includes at least one of the compositions of matter of claims
16-33.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Electronic devices typically include one or more components
that are formed from semiconductor wafers. The semiconductor wafers
include a number of transistors, sometimes on the order of
thousands of transistors up to billions of transistors, to
accomplish the functions of the electronic devices. In some cases,
electronic device designers often attempt to improve the
performance of electronic devices and/or increase the functionality
of electronic devices while reducing cost, by adding more
transistors to semiconductor wafers.
[0002] Semiconductor device manufacturers have responded by
continuing to decrease the size of the transistors formed on the
semiconductor wafers. However, the extent of the decrease in size
of the transistors may be limited due to limitations of processes
used to form certain components of the transistor. For example, the
decrease in size of the p-type or n-type junctions of a transistor
may be limited due to the ability of semiconductor manufacturers to
effectively dope semiconductor wafers such that the concentration
of the dopant in the semiconductor wafer is uniform and at a
shallow enough depth to support a smaller junction size.
[0003] In particular, as the need for the depth of junctions of
transistors to decrease below the 14 nm mark has increased and as
transistors have been formed in three-dimensional shapes (e.g.
finFETs), semiconductor manufacturers have encountered problems
forming properly doped junctions and source/drain extensions, when
using traditional doping methods, such as ion implantation. For
example, ion implantation of dopants can damage the surface of the
substrates, which affects the performance of the junction. Ion
implantation may also suffer from limited lateral diffusion control
resulting in greater short channel effects which decrease
transistor performance. Additionally, since ion implantation is a
line of sight doping technique, as the features of
three-dimensional transistors decreases, the ion implantation
devices are unable to access the entire surface of the substrate,
which leads to a non-uniform doping of the substrate surface. When
the junctions of transistors included in electronic devices are not
uniformly doped, the performance of electronic devices including
these transistors can decrease due to the inability of the
transistors to signal discrete on and off states.
SUMMARY
[0004] This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of
formulations of solutions and processes to form a substrate
including a dopant, such as As. Additional details of example
formulations of solutions and example processes are further
described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not
intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject
matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the
claimed subject matter.
[0005] In one embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a process
including preparing a solution including a dopant and a solvent. In
some embodiments, the dopant may include arsenic. The process may
also include contacting a substrate with the solution. In a
particular embodiment, the solution may have a flashpoint that is
at least approximately equal to a minimum temperature capable of
causing attachment between atoms at a surface of the substrate and
an arsenic-containing compound in the solution within a duration of
at least 2 hours.
[0006] In another embodiment, a solution may include a solvent and
an arsenic-containing compound. In a particular embodiment, the
solution has a flashpoint that is at least approximately equal to a
minimum temperature capable of causing attachment between atoms of
a substrate and an arsenic-containing compound in the solution
within a duration of at least 2 hours.
[0007] In an additional embodiment, a substrate may include a
surface having a plurality of silicon atoms. The substrate may also
include an arsenic-containing compound covalently bonded to at
least a portion of the plurality of the silicon atoms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the
accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a
reference number identifies the figure in which the reference
number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in
different figures indicates similar or identical items or
features.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of process to form
a substrate including a dopant.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate having
silicon atoms at a surface that can undergo one or more embodiments
of processes described herein.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate having
silicon atoms at a surface that have been subjected to one or more
embodiments of processes described herein.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates an additional embodiment of a substrate
having silicon atoms at a surface that have been subjected to one
or more embodiments of processes described herein.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to an arsenic-containing
compound.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to multiple layers of an
arsenic-containing compound.
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to a blocking molecule.
[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to a linking moiety.
[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to a linking moiety with an
arsenic-containing compound bonded to the linking moiety.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] This disclosure describes formulations of solutions and
processes to form a substrate including a dopant. In particular
implementations, the dopant may include arsenic (As). Substrates
doped with arsenic may have improved electrical characteristics
versus the electrical characteristics of phosphorous doped
substrates. For example, the diffusion coefficient for As is
significantly lower than the diffusion coefficient for other
dopants, such as P. Thus, using As as a dopant may produce doped
substrates with junctions that are shallower than doped substrates
that include other n-type dopants. Additionally, using As as a
dopant may produce a doped substrate that is able to withstand
higher temperatures before diffusion of the dopant atoms occurs
than substrates that include other n-type dopants. Accordingly,
arsenic doped substrates can have improved performance with respect
to substrates doped with phosphorous. In some cases, arsenic doped
substrates can be used to produce semiconductor wafers that may be
used in high performance electronic devices. Furthermore, this
disclosure describes formulations and processes that may be used to
form a uniformly doped substrate that may include three-dimensional
transistor structures with junctions having depths less than 20 nm.
In some cases, the substrates formed according to embodiments
herein may include silicon-on-insulator substrates,
germanium-on-insulator substrates, conventional silicon substrates,
silicon substrates that may present multiple crystal orientations
(e.g., substrates having a triangular shaped fin where the
orientation of Si atoms may be a function of the position of the Si
atoms on the three dimensional structure), conventional germanium
substrates, or a combination thereof.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a process 100 to form a
substrate including an arsenic-containing dopant. In an embodiment,
the substrate may be rigid, while in another embodiment, the
substrate may be flexible. Additionally, the substrate may include
a semiconducting material. For example, in one embodiment, the
substrate may be a silicon containing substrate. In another
embodiment, the substrate may be a germanium-containing substrate.
In still another embodiment, the substrate may include a
combination of silicon and germanium. In some cases, the substrate
may include at least 40% silicon, at least 55% silicon, or at least
70% silicon. In other cases, substantially all of the substrate may
include silicon, no greater than about 95% of the substrate may
include silicon, or no greater than about 80% of the substrate may
include silicon. In one non-limiting illustrative example, Si atoms
of the substrate may have a 100 orientation. In another
non-limiting illustrative example, Si atoms of the substrate may
have a 111 orientation. In yet another non-limiting illustrative
example, Si atoms of the substrate may have a 110 orientation.
[0020] At 102, the process 100 includes preparing a solution that
includes a solvent and a dopant. In some instances, the solution
that includes the solvent and the dopant may be referred to herein
as a "dopant solution." In an embodiment, the dopant may include at
least one arsenic atom. In one example, the dopant may include an
arsenic-containing compound. The arsenic-containing compound may
include an inorganic arsenic-containing compound, an organoarsenic
compound, or an organic arsenic-containing compound.
[0021] In some cases, the arsenic-containing compound may include
at least one functional group that is capable of reacting with
atoms at the surface of a substrate and/or is capable of
interacting with atoms at the surface of the substrate. The at
least one functional group of the arsenic-containing compound may
react and/or interact with atoms at the surface of the substrate
via chemisorption, physisorption, or both. In particular
embodiments, the reaction and/or interaction between the at least
one functional group of the arsenic-containing compound and atoms
at the surface of the substrate may include covalent bonding,
dative bonding, hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding, or a combination
thereof. In some situations, the arsenic-containing compounds and
the atoms at the surface of the substrate may have a localized or
supramolecular interaction that is sufficiently strong such that
the arsenic-containing compound remains at the surface of the
substrate when subjected to some subsequent processing conditions.
In other instances, the reaction and/or interaction between the
arsenic-containing compound and the atoms at the surface of the
substrate may be disrupted when subjected to other subsequent
processing conditions, such as the conditions of an annealing
process. In this way, the arsenic atoms may be released and
available to diffuse into the substrate.
[0022] In an illustrative embodiment, the reactive functional group
or groups may include an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a
hydroxyl group, an aryl group, an amine group, an amide group, a
nitro group, a carbonyl group, a halogen-containing group, a thiol
group, a dienophile, or a combination thereof. Additionally, in
some embodiments, the arsenic-containing compounds may include one
or more As(III) atoms. In other embodiments, the arsenic-containing
compounds may include one or more As(V) atoms. In still other
embodiments, the arsenic-containing compounds may include one or
more As(III) atoms and one or more As(V) atoms. In some cases, the
arsenic-containing compound may be a polyarsenic compound.
[0023] The arsenic-containing compounds described in embodiments
herein may be formed using a number of techniques. In some cases,
the arsenic-containing compounds may be formed from a condensation
reaction. Illustrative examples of preparative methods that may be
used to form arsenic-containing compounds described in embodiments
herein are described in Doak, G. O.; Freedman, L. D. Organometallic
compounds of arsenic, antimony, and bismuth in; Seyferth, Dietmar,
Ed. The Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds; Wiley-Interscience:
New York, 1970; Chemistry of Arsenic, Antimony and Bismuth; Norman,
N. C., Ed. Blackie Academic & Professional: London, 1998; and
Raiziss, G. W.; Gavron, J. L. Organic Arsenical Compounds; American
Chemical Society Monograph Series; Chemical Catalog Company: New
York, 1923, which are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety. Other illustrative examples of preparative methods of
arsenic-containing compounds described herein are described in
Loiseau, P. M., Rekik, L., Madaule, Y., Gayral, P., and Wolf, J. G.
Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Res. 43(II), Nr. 9 (1993) 1004-1009; Dale,
Arild J., and Froyen, Paul Acta Chemica Scandanavica B 29 (1975)
741-748; Tapia-Benavides, Antonio R.; Mendoza-Huizar, Luis H.;
Perez-Garcia, Francisco; Tlahuext, Hugo; Alvarez, Alejandro; and
Tlahuextl, Margarita. Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49, 1496-1502; and Betz,
Richard and Klufers, Peter. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 925-935, which
are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. In some
embodiments, the arsenic-containing compound may include or be
formed from arsonic acids, arsinic acids, derivatives of arsonic
acids, derivatives of arsinic acids, or combinations thereof.
Derivatives of the arsonic acids and/or derivatives of the arsinic
acids may include esters, thioesters, amides, ester/amides,
thioester/amides, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments,
the arsenic-containing compound may include or be formed from
arsonous acids; arsinous acids; derivatives of arsonous and/or
arsinous acids, such as esters, amides, and/or ester/amides; or
combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the arsenic-containing
compounds may include or be formed from arsines, including
aminoarsines, alkylaminoarsines, dialkylaminoarsines, haloarsines,
dialkylhaloarsines, and dihaloalkylarsines. In still other
embodiments, the arsenic-containing compounds may include or be
formed from arsine oxides, arseno compounds, diarsines,
polyarisnes, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the
arsenic-containing compounds may serve as an intermediate to
produce a dopant or pre-dopant by further reaction to introduce a
moiety or moieties capable of reaction or interaction with the
surface or modified surface of the substrate via chemisorption or
physisorption.
[0024] In one illustrative embodiment, arsinic acids may be
derivatized to form certain adducts as shown below:
##STR00001##
In an embodiment, the composition of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may each,
independently, represent a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted
hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group. In addition R.sup.1 and
R.sup.2 may collectively form a bridging group. In another
embodiment, E.sup.1, E.sup.2, and E.sup.3, may each, independently,
represent N (nitrogen), O (oxygen), or S (sulfur), and if N, then
the nitrogen atom, may be further substituted by hydrogen, a
hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl
group. G.sup.1 may be a group linking E.sup.1, E.sup.2, and
E.sup.3. In addition, G.sup.1 may include a hydrocarbyl group, a
substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group.
[0025] Non-limiting examples of compound II above may include
glycerol, diethanolamine, iminodiacetic acid,
2-ethyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol, serinol,
2-methyl-2-amino-1,3-propandiol, and trimethylolpropane.
[0026] Some non-limiting examples of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may
include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a higher branched,
straight-chain group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an
alkynyl group, an allyl group, a propargyl group, a phenyl group,
another aryl group, a hetararyl group, or a combination thereof.
For example, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may include 4-hydroxyphenyl,
4-allyloxyphenyl, 4-propargyloxyphenyl,
3-acetamido-4-hydroxyphenyl, 3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl,
4-aminophenyl, 3-acetamido-4-allyloxyphenyl,
3-acetamido-4-propargyloxyphenyl, 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenyl,
3-nitro-4-allyloxyphenyl, 3-nitro-4-propargyloxyphenyl,
4-aminophenyl, 4-allylaminophenyl, 4-diallylaminophenyl,
4-propargylaminophenyl, 4-dipropargylaminophenyl,
4-allyloxy-3-allylaminophenyl, 4-allyloxy-3-diallylaminophenyl,
4-propargyloxy-3-dipropargylaminophenyl, 4-maleimidophenyl,
4-hydroxy-3-maleimidophenyl, 4-acrylamidophenyl,
4-methacrylamidophenyl, 4-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl, or
4-(4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzamidophenyl)phenyl.
[0027] In another illustrative embodiment, arsonic acids, such as
compound IV below, may be derivatized to form certain adducts, such
as compound VII below, by reaction with compounds V and VI as shown
below. In some embodiments, V and VI are the same compound. In
other embodiments V and VI are different compounds.
##STR00002##
[0028] In an embodiment, R.sup.3 may include a hydrocarbyl group, a
substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group. Additionally,
E.sup.4, E.sup.5, E.sup.6, and E.sup.7 may each, independently,
represent O, S, or N; and if any of E.sup.4, E.sup.5, E.sup.6, or
E.sup.7 is N, then the nitrogen atom is further substituted by
hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or
a silyl group. Further, G.sup.2 may be a group linking E.sup.4 and
E.sup.5 and G.sup.3 may be a group linking E.sup.6 and E.sup.7.
G.sup.2 and G.sup.3 may collectively form a bridging group and
G.sup.2 and G.sup.3 may include a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted
hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group. In an embodiment, at least one
of R.sup.3, G.sup.2, and G.sup.3 includes a moiety or moieties
capable of reaction or interaction with the surface or modified
surface of the substrate via chemisorption or physisorption and the
moiety or moieties borne by at least one of R.sup.3, G.sup.2, and
G.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of: a terminally
unsaturated hydrocarbyl; a carboxylate ester; an activated ester;
an arsonic acid group; an alkene conjugated to at least one ketone;
an alkene conjugated to at least one aldehyde group; an alkene
conjugated to at least one cyano group; an alkene conjugated to at
least one nitro group; an alkene conjugated to at least one
sulfonyl ester; an alkene conjugated to at least one carboxylic
ester; an alkene conjugated to at least one activated ester group;
and an alkene conjugated to at least one arsonic acid group.
[0029] Some non-limiting examples of R.sup.3 may include a methyl
group, an ethyl group, a higher branched, straight-chain group, a
cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an allyl
group, a propargyl group, a phenyl group, another aryl group, a
heteroaryl group, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment,
R.sup.3 may include 4-hydroxyphenyl, 4-allyloxyphenyl,
4-propargyloxyphenyl, 3-acetamido-4-hydroxyphenyl,
3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl, 4-aminophenyl,
3-acetamido-4-allyloxyphenyl, 3-acetamido-4-propargyloxyphenyl,
3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenyl, 3-nitro-4-allyloxyphenyl,
3-nitro-4-propargyloxyphenyl, 4-aminophenyl, 4-allylaminophenyl,
4-diallylaminophenyl, 4-propargylaminophenyl,
4-dipropargylaminophenyl, 4-allyloxy-3-allylaminophenyl,
4-allyloxy-3-diallylaminophenyl,
4-propargyloxy-3-dipropargylaminophenyl, 4-maleimidophenyl,
4-hydroxy-3-maleimidophenyl, 4-acrylamidophenyl,
4-methacrylamidophenyl, 4-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl,
4-(4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzamidophenyl)phenyl.
[0030] Some non-limiting examples of compounds V and VII above are
ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, pinacol, mercaptothanol,
ethylenediamine, ethanedithol, catechol, 1,2-diaminobenzene,
ortho-aminothiophenol, ethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol,
2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, 2-aminophenol,
N-methylethanolamine, 3-allyloxy-1,2-propanediol,
3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid, arsphenamine,
3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid, 2-(tert-butylamino)ethanol, or
combinations thereof.
[0031] In some embodiments, certain arsines, in particular, di- or
trihaloarsines and/or bis- or trisaminoarsines may be further
derivatized with bis nucleophiles. For example, bis nucleophiles,
such as compound VIII (HE.sup.9-G.sup.4-E.sup.8H), can react with
trisdialkylaminoarsines to give a composition of matter of Formula
IX:
##STR00003##
In an embodiment, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may each, independently,
include hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl
group, or a silyl group. In addition, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may
collectively form a bridging group. Further, E.sup.8 and E.sup.9
may each, independently, represent O, S, or N, and if N, then N is
further substituted by hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted
hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group. Further, G.sup.4 is a group
linking E.sup.8 and E.sup.9 and, G.sup.4 may include a hydrocarbyl
group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group.
Additionally, G.sup.4 may include an alkenyl group or alkynyl
group.
[0032] Some non-limiting examples of compound VIII may include
ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, pinacol, mercaptothanol,
ethylenediamine, ethanedithol, catechol, 1,2-diaminobenzene,
ortho-aminothiophenol, ethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol,
2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, 2-aminophenol,
N-methylethanolamine, 3-allyloxy-1,2-propanediol,
3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid, arsphenamine,
3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid, 2-(tert-butylamino)ethanol,
N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)-4-propargylyloxyaniline, and
N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)-4-allyloxyaniline.
[0033] Table 1 includes illustrative examples of arsenic-containing
compounds that may be utilized in embodiments described herein. In
addition, the arsenic-containing compounds that may be utilized in
embodiments herein may include ions of the compounds listed in
Table 1, salts of the compounds listed in Table 1, or a combination
thereof.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Com- pound Molecular Number Weight Structure
1 207.15 ##STR00004## 2 ##STR00005## 4 138 ##STR00006## 5 202.04
##STR00007## 6 166.01 ##STR00008## 7 384.34 ##STR00009## 8 326.27
##STR00010## 9 290.23 ##STR00011## 10 348.31 ##STR00012## 11 235.07
##STR00013## 12 473.31 ##STR00014## 13 400.34 ##STR00015## 14
320.17 ##STR00016## 15 472.4 ##STR00017## 16 379.2 ##STR00018## 17
440.41 ##STR00019## 18 ##STR00020## 19 ##STR00021## 20 ##STR00022##
21 ##STR00023## 22 ##STR00024## 23 ##STR00025## 24 ##STR00026## 25
##STR00027## 26 ##STR00028## 27 ##STR00029## 28 ##STR00030## 29
##STR00031##
[0034] In Table 1, each R, may independently, include hydrogen, a
hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl
group. In addition, two or more R groups taken together may
collectively form a bridging group. Further, in Table 1, each R'
group, may independently, include hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a
substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group. Additionally, two
or more R' groups taken together may collectively form a bridging
group. E in Table 1 may, independently include N, O, or S atoms. In
situations when E is N, then N may be further substituted by
hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or
a silyl group. In Table 1, G may represent a group linking two or
more atoms represented by E; and G may include a hydrocarbyl group,
a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a silyl group. Furthermore, in
Table 1, X may include a halogen atom.
[0035] In an embodiment, a solvent included in the dopant solution
may be capable of dissolving the dopant or the dopant may be
miscible in the dopant solution at a temperature of no greater than
about 50.degree. C., no greater than about 42.degree. C., no
greater than about 35.degree. C., no greater than about 30.degree.
C., or no greater than about 25.degree. C. In another embodiment,
the solvent may be capable of dissolving the dopant at a
temperature of at least 2.degree. C., at least 8.degree. C., at
least 15.degree. C., or at least about 20.degree. C. In an
illustrative embodiment, the solvent may be capable of dissolving
the dopant at a temperature within a range of about 20.degree. C.
to about 35.degree. C.
[0036] In illustrative embodiments, the solvent may include
4-hydroxy butanoic acid, a glycol ether (e.g., di-ethylene glycol
di-butyl ether, tetra-ethylene glycol di-methyl ether
(tetraglyme)), 4-formylmorpholine, phenylacetic acid, a C9 alcohol,
a C10 alcohol, 3-nonanone, phenylpropyl ether, dimethylsulfoxide
(DMSO), cyclooctanone, furfuryl acetone, isophorone, di-hexyl
ether, 2-nonanone, phenyl propyl ether, hexyl benzene, mesitylene,
N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), an alkanolamine, acetonitrile, toluene,
dioxane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), or combinations thereof. In some
cases, the solvent may include an inert compound, such as methanol,
ethanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerine,
ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, methyl acetate, acetone, methyl
ethyl ketone, methyl butyl ketone, or combinations thereof.
[0037] In particular instances, the solvent may include an amount
of water. In some cases, the amount of water included in the
solvent may be minimized. For example, the preparation of the
solution at 102 may include drying the solvent. To illustrate, the
solvent may be dried by adding a drying agent to the solvent. In
one embodiment, the drying agent can include an inorganic salt, a
zeolite, a water reactive compound, or a combination thereof. In
another illustration, the solvent may be dried by washing the
solvent with a drying solution. In additional illustrative
examples, the solvent may be dried via distillation in the presence
of a drying agent in an ambient environment or while pulling a
vacuum, via distillation of water from the solvent in an ambient
environment or while pulling a vacuum, via rotary evaporation
techniques, via thin-film evaporation techniques, via azeotropic
distillation techniques, or a combination thereof. In other
embodiments, the solvent may be non-hygroscopic.
[0038] In one embodiment, the solvent may include no greater than
about 10 vol % water for a total volume of the solvent, no greater
than about 7 vol % water for a total volume of the solvent, no
greater than about 4 vol % water for a total volume of the solvent,
or no greater than about 1 vol % water for a total volume of the
solvent. In a particular embodiment, the solvent can include within
a range of 0.05 vol % water to about 2.5 vol % water for a total
volume of the solvent. In an illustrative embodiment, the solvent
may be sufficiently dry such that a precipitate is not formed when
the dopant and solvent are mixed at suitable process
conditions.
[0039] In some cases, the dopant solution may have a flashpoint
that is at least approximately equal to or greater than a minimum
temperature capable of causing attachment between at least a
portion of the atoms at a surface of a substrate and an
arsenic-containing compound in the dopant solution. In an
embodiment, the attachment may occur in conjunction with a reaction
between the arsenic-containing compound in the dopant solution and
the atoms at the surface of the substrate. In some embodiments, the
arsenic-containing compound may attach to at least 5% of the atoms
at the surface of the substrate, at least 20% of the atoms at the
surface of the substrate, at least 50% of the atoms at the surface
of the substrate, at least 80% of the atoms at the surface of the
substrate, or at least 95% of the atoms at the surface of the
substrate. In a particular embodiment, the arsenic-containing
compound may attach to essentially all of the atoms at the surface
of the substrate.
[0040] In an embodiment, the flashpoint of the dopant solution may
be at least 40.degree. C., at least 55.degree. C., at least
75.degree. C., at least 100.degree. C., at least 125.degree. C., at
least 150.degree. C., or at least 200.degree. C. In a particular
illustrative embodiment, the flashpoint of the dopant solution may
be within a range of about 50.degree. C. to about 115.degree. C. In
another particular illustrative embodiment, the flashpoint of the
dopant solution can be within a range of about 110.degree. C. to
about 250.degree. C.
[0041] Further, the flashpoint of the dopant solution may be at
least 10.degree. C., at least 35.degree. C., at least 50.degree.
C., or at least 75.degree. C. greater than the minimum temperature
capable of causing attachment between atoms at a surface of the
substrate and the arsenic-containing compound of the dopant
solution. In another embodiment, the flashpoint of the dopant
solution may be no greater than 200.degree. C., no greater than
175.degree. C., no greater than 140.degree. C., or no greater than
100.degree. C. greater than the minimum temperature capable of
causing attachment between atoms at a surface of the substrate and
the arsenic-containing compound of the dopant solution. In an
illustrative embodiment, the flashpoint of the dopant solution may
be within a range of about 25.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. or
within a range of about 40.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C.
greater than the minimum temperature capable of causing attachment
between atoms at a surface of the substrate and the
arsenic-containing compound of the dopant solution.
[0042] In some situations, the flashpoint of the solution may be at
least a temperature that is capable of causing attachment between
atoms at the surface of the substrate and the arsenic-containing
compound of the dopant solution within a duration of at least 2
hours, at least 2.5 hours, at least 3 hours, at least 5 hours, or
at least 7.5 hours. Further, the flashpoint of the solution may be
at least a temperature that is capable of causing attachment
between atoms at the surface of the substrate and the
arsenic-containing compound of the dopant solution within a
duration of no greater than 15 hours, no greater than 12 hours, no
greater than 10 hours, or no greater than 8 hours. In an
embodiment, the flashpoint of the solution may be at least a
temperature that is capable of causing attachment between atoms at
the surface of the substrate and the arsenic-containing compound of
the dopant solution within a duration having a range of about 1.5
hours to about 10 hours. In another embodiment, the flashpoint of
the solution may be at least a temperature that is capable of
causing attachment between atoms at the surface of the substrate
and the arsenic-containing compound of the dopant solution within a
duration having a range of about 2.5 hours to about 5 hours. In
some scenarios, the flashpoint of the solution may be at least a
temperature that is capable of causing attachment between atoms at
the surface of the substrate and the arsenic-containing compound of
the dopant solution at a pressure within a range of about 5 pounds
per square inch (psi) to about 50 psi.
[0043] In some embodiments, the solution can include at least 1 wt
% dopant of a total weight of the dopant solution, at least 5 wt %
dopant of a total weight of the dopant solution, at least 15 wt %
dopant of a total weight of the dopant solution, or at least 30 wt
% dopant of a total weight of the dopant solution. In other
embodiments, the solution includes no greater than about 60 wt %
dopant of a total weight of the dopant solution, no greater than
about 50 wt % dopant of a total weight of the dopant solution, no
greater than about 42 wt % dopant of a total weight of the dopant
solution, or no greater than about 35 wt % dopant of a total weight
of the dopant solution. In an illustrative embodiment, the solution
can include dopant within a range of about 2 wt % to about 11 wt %
of a total weight of the dopant solution. In another illustrative
embodiment, the solution may include dopant within a range of about
25 wt % to about 40 wt % of a total volume of the dopant solution.
In a further illustrative embodiment, substantially all of the
dopant solution can include the dopant.
[0044] In an embodiment, preparing the dopant solution can include
mixing the solvent and the dopant at a suitable temperature and
pressure such that the solvent dissolves the dopant or the dopant
is miscible in the solvent. For example, the solvent and the dopant
can be mixed at a temperature of at least 10.degree. C., at least
18.degree. C., at least 25.degree. C., or at least 30.degree. C. In
another example, the solvent and the dopant may be mixed at a
temperature of no greater than about 50.degree. C., no greater than
about 42.degree. C., or no greater than about 35.degree. C. In an
illustrative embodiment, the dopant and the solvent can be mixed at
a temperature within a range of about 17.degree. C. to about
30.degree. C. Further, the dopant and the solvent can be mixed at a
pressure within a range of about 10 pounds/in..sup.2 (psi) to about
25 psi.
[0045] At 104, the process 100 includes treating a surface of the
substrate to produce a modified surface of the substrate. In an
embodiment, treating the surface of the substrate may include
contacting the surface with a material that is capable of modifying
the bonds of atoms at the surface of the substrate. "Contacting" as
used herein may refer to one or more processes for bringing the
surface of the substrate into physical contact with a material,
such as immersion, spin coating, spraying, vapor exposure, and the
like.
[0046] In an embodiment, atoms at the surface of the substrate may
oxidize when exposed to air forming an oxide at the surface of the
substrate. In some cases, treating the surface of the substrate may
include removing at least a portion of the oxide with a particular
material. In a particular embodiment, the surface of the substrate
can be treated with an acidic solution to replace at least a
portion of the oxidized portions of the surface with
hydrogen-terminated atoms. In particular embodiments, a first
portion of the atoms on the surface of substrate may undergo
hydrogen termination, while a second portion of the atoms of the
surface of the substrate may remain oxidized. In certain
situations, the acidic solution can include a hydrofluoric acid,
such as a dilute hydrofluoric acid. In an embodiment, the substrate
may be treated with the acidic solution for a duration of at least
1 minute, at least 3 minutes, or at least 5 minutes. In another
embodiment, the substrate may be treated with the acidic solution
for no greater than 15 minutes, no greater than 12 minutes, or no
greater than 8 minutes. In a non-limiting illustrative embodiment,
the substrate may be treated with the acidic solution for a
duration within a range of about 2 minutes to about 6 minutes. In a
further embodiment, the substrate may be treated with the acidic
solution at a temperature within a range of about 10.degree. C. to
about 35.degree. C. In another embodiment, the substrate may be
treated with the acidic solution in an inert environment, such as a
N.sub.2 environment. In a further embodiment, the substrate may be
treated with an acidic solution that has been de-aerated.
[0047] In particular embodiments, the surface of the substrate may
be treated with other materials to modify the surface of the
substrate. In some situations, the substrate may undergo multiple
treatments with certain materials to modify the surface of the
substrate. Additionally, the surface of the substrate may be
modified such that endgroups on the surface of the substrate are
reactive toward the arsenic-containing compounds included in the
dopant solution prepared with respect to operation 102. In one
illustrative example, the surface of the substrate may include a
number of silicon atoms that are treated in such a way that
silanols are formed followed by contacting the substrate with a
solution that includes an ester-containing molecule. In another
illustrative example, the surface of the substrate may be contacted
with a nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide solution. In some
embodiments, the amount of nitric acid in the nitric acid and
hydrogen peroxide solution can be within a range of about 10 vol %
to about 40 vol % of a total volume of the nitric acid and hydrogen
peroxide solution. In other embodiments, the surface of the
substrate may be contacted with an aqueous nitric acid solution. In
a particular embodiment, an amount of nitric acid in the aqueous
nitric acid solution may be within a range of about 10 vol % to
about 70 vol % of a total volume of the aqueous nitric acid
solution. In further illustrative examples, atoms at the surface of
the substrate may be treated to form hydrides followed by
contacting the substrate with a solution that can include an
allyl-containing molecule. To illustrate, silicon atoms at the
surface of the substrate may be treated to form silicon hydrides
and then undergo hydrosilylation by contacting the surface of the
substrate with an allyl-containing solution to form a silicon-alkyl
bond. Other illustrative examples of the chemical modification of
the surface of a substrate that may be used in embodiments herein
are described in, Timothy R. Leftwich, Andrew V. Teplyakov.
"Chemical Manipulation of Multifunctional Hydrocarbons on Silicon
Surfaces." Surface Science Reports 63 (2008): 1-71, which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0048] In an illustrative embodiment, the surface of the substrate
may be modified by contacting the surface with a solution for a
duration of at least 2 minutes, at least 5 minutes, at least 20
minutes, or at least 45 minutes. In another illustrative
embodiment, the surface of the substrate may be modified by
contacting the surface with a solution for a duration of no greater
than about 125 minutes, no greater than about 100 minutes, or no
greater than about 75 minutes. In a non-limiting illustrative
embodiment, the surface of the substrate may be modified by
contacting the surface with a solution for a duration within a
range of about 40 minutes to about 80 minutes.
[0049] Further, the surface of the substrate may be modified by
contacting the surface with a solution at a temperature of at least
25.degree. C., at least 55.degree. C., or at least 80.degree. C. In
other situations, the substrate may be modified by contacting the
surface with a solution at a temperature of no greater than about
150.degree. C., no greater than about 120.degree. C., or no greater
than about 95.degree. C. In a non-limiting illustrative embodiment,
the surface of the substrate may be modified by contacting the
surface at a temperature within a range of about 65.degree. C. to
about 100.degree. C.
[0050] In some instances, treating the surface of the substrate to
produce a modified surface of the substrate may include one or more
rinse cycles, one or more drying cycles, or a combination thereof.
In one example, after hydrosilylation of the surface of the
substrate, the substrate may be rinsed with a solution including a
solvent. In one embodiment, the solvent can include isopropyl
alcohol. In another embodiment, the solvent can include mesitylene.
In a further embodiment, the solvent can include DMSO. In another
example, after modification of the surface of the substrate, the
substrate may be rinsed with de-ionized water. Additionally, the
substrate may be rinsed after contacting the surface of the
substrate with a surface modification solution. In other
embodiments, after a rinsing cycle, the substrate may be dried. The
substrate may be dried via air drying, Marangoni drying, spin
drying, contacting the substrate with a stream of dry inert gas, or
a combination thereof.
[0051] At 106, the process 100 may include contacting the modified
surface of the substrate with the dopant solution prepared with
respect to operation 102. Contacting the modified surface of the
substrate with the dopant solution may cause a reaction between
atoms of the modified surface of the substrate and the
arsenic-containing molecules in the dopant solution. In this way,
arsenic-containing compounds can be chemisorbed or physisorbed to
atoms at the surface of the substrate. In particular, the
arsenic-containing compounds may have a localized or supramolecular
interaction that is sufficiently strong such that the
arsenic-containing compound remains on the surface of the substrate
when subjected to subsequent processing. In some cases, the
interaction between the arsenic-containing compound and the atoms
at the surface of the substrate may include covalent bonding,
dative bonding, hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding, or a combination
thereof. Particular examples of interactions between
arsenic-containing compounds and atoms on the surface of the
substrate may include hydrosilylation of alkenes and/or alkynes
with surface silanes; ester interchange between ester moieties and
surface silanols of other attached hydroxyls; carboxamide formation
from an ester and amino functionalized surface; arsonous and/or
asinous ester formation from surface silanols and amino arsines,
such as trisdimethylaminoarsine; arsonous or arsinous ester
formation from surface silanols and arsenic(III)-containing
compounds, such as for example, arsenic-amine compounds with no
more than 1 arsenic-nitrogen bond, no more than 2 arsenic-nitrogen
bonds, or no more than 3 arsenic-nitrogen bonds; or combinations
thereof.
[0052] In one embodiment, the surface of the substrate can be
contacted with the dopant solution for a duration of at least 0.05
hours, 0.3 hours, at least 0.9 hours, at least 1.4 hours, or at
least 1.8 hours. In another embodiment, the surface of the
substrate can be contacted with the dopant solution for a duration
of no greater than about 3.6 hours, no greater than about 3.1
hours, no greater than about 2.5 hours, or no greater than about
2.2 hours. In one illustrative embodiment, the surface of the
substrate can be contacted with the dopant solution for a duration
within a range of about 0.4 hours to about 3.0 hours. In another
illustrative embodiment, the surface of the substrate can be
contacted with the dopant solution for a duration within a range of
about 0.7 hours to about 2 hours.
[0053] In another embodiment, the surface of the substrate may be
contacted with the dopant solution at a temperature of at least
30.degree. C., at least 55.degree. C., at least 80.degree. C., or
at least 105.degree. C. In other embodiments, the surface of the
substrate may be contacted with the dopant solution at a
temperature of no greater than about 175.degree. C., no greater
than about 155.degree. C., no greater than about 135.degree. C., or
no greater than about 120.degree. C. In an illustrative embodiment,
the surface of the substrate can be contacted with the dopant
solution at a temperature within a range of about 85.degree. C. to
about 140.degree. C. or within a range of about 100.degree. C. to
about 125.degree. C.
[0054] In some scenarios, the substrate may be rinsed after being
contacted by the dopant solution. In one embodiment, the substrate
may be rinsed with the solvent included in the dopant solution. In
one illustrative example, the substrate may be rinsed with
tetraglyme when tetraglyme is used to prepare the solution of 102.
In another illustrative example, the substrate can be rinsed with
acetonitrile when acetonitrile is used to prepare the solution of
102. In an additional illustrative example, the substrate can be
rinsed with THF when THF is used to prepare the solution of 102. In
an additional illustrative example, the substrate can be rinsed
with n-methylpyrolidone (NMP) when NMP is used to prepare the
solution of 102. In certain instances, the substrate may undergo an
additional rinse after being rinsed with the solvent included in
the dopant solution. In a non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the
substrate may undergo an additional rinse using a low boiling point
solvent. An example of a low boiling solvent may be isopropanol. In
yet another illustrative example, the substrate can be rinsed with
water. In certain cases, the substrate may also undergo one or more
drying operations. In one case, the substrate may be dried after
being contacted with the dopant solution. In another case, the
substrate may be dried after being rinsed with the solvent of the
dopant solution. In a further scenario, rinsing the substrate with
the low-boiling point solvent may be part of a process to dry the
substrate. In some cases, the substrate may not undergo rinsing
after modifying the surface of the substrate and before contacting
the substrate with a dopant solution.
[0055] In an embodiment, rinsing can include contacting the
substrate with a heated solvent, such as the solvent included in
the dopant solution. In a particular embodiment, the temperature of
the solvent may be room temperatures, such as within a range of
about 15.degree. C. to about 25.degree. C., up to a minimum
temperature capable of initiating a reaction between the dopant
solution and the substrate within a specified duration. In some
cases, the heated solvent may be applied to a substrate after
contacting the surface of the substrate with a surface modification
solution or after the substrate has been contacted with a dopant
solution. In one embodiment, after contacting the substrate with
the heated solvent, the substrate may be rinsed with either water
or a low boiling organic solvent.
[0056] In another situation, rinsing the substrate can include
contacting the substrate with a solvent and providing sonic energy
into the liquid. In some instances, the sonic energy may be
ultrasonic or megasonic. In one embodiment, the sonic energy may be
provided to the solvent for a duration of at least 10 seconds, at
least 30 seconds, at least 2 minutes or at least 5 minutes. In a
particular embodiment, the sonic energy may be provided
continuously or in a pulsed manner, and the frequency may be fixed,
swept, or any combination thereof. In a further embodiment, the
solvent provided with the sonic energy may be the solvent present
in the dopant solution, another organic solvent, such as a low
boiling organic solvent, or de-ionized water.
[0057] In a particular illustrative embodiment, the processes
described with respect to operation 106 can be repeated. To
illustrate, after the substrate is contacted with the dopant
solution, the substrate may undergo an additional process to
contact the substrate with the dopant solution. In some situations,
the substrate may be rinsed each time the substrate is contacted
with a dopant solution, while in other cases, the substrate may not
be rinsed after at least one of the applications of the dopant
solution to the substrate. Accordingly, multiple layers of the
arsenic-containing compound in the dopant solution may be added to
the surface of the substrate. In some instances, the duration and
temperature of subsequent operations of contacting the substrate
with the dopant solution may be similar to the duration and
temperature of a previous operation of contacting the substrate and
the dopant solution. In other instances, the duration and
temperature of subsequent operations directed to contacting the
substrate with the dopant solution may be different than the
duration and temperature of a previous operation of contacting the
substrate with the dopant solution. Accordingly, the use of more
than one dopant solution for the corresponding dopant layers may be
employed.
[0058] At 108, the process 100 includes adding the dopant to a body
of the substrate. In some cases, the dopant may be added to the
body of the substrate via diffusion. In particular instances,
arsenic atoms included in the arsenic-containing compounds bonded
to the surface of the substrate may diffuse from the surface of the
substrate into the body of the substrate under suitable conditions.
In some cases, the arsenic-containing compounds bonded to the
surface of the substrate may be organoarsenic compounds. In other
situations, the arsenic-containing compounds bonded to the surface
of the substrate may be inorganic. In a particular instance,
organic functional groups of an organoarsenic compound that is
bonded to atoms at the surface of the substrate may react with
trace amounts of water to cleave the organic functional groups and
produce an inorganic arsenic-containing compound. For example, when
tris(dimethylamino)arsine (TDMA) is bonded to silanol groups at the
surface of the substrate, trace amounts of water may react with the
dimethylamine groups of TDMA to remove these organic functional
groups. In an illustrative embodiment, arsenic atoms diffusing into
the body of the substrate may displace silicon atoms, germanium
atoms, or both, within the lattice structure of the body of the
substrate.
[0059] In particular embodiments, the arsenic atoms may diffuse to
a particular depth with respect to the surface of the substrate. In
one example, the arsenic atoms may diffuse into the body of the
substrate such that the peak concentration of the dopant is
achieved at a depth of no greater than about 20 nm from the surface
of the substrate, no greater than about 10 nm from the surface of
the substrate, no greater than about 7 nm from the surface of the
substrate, or no greater than about 4 nm from the surface of the
substrate. Additionally, the distribution of dopant in the
substrate may be such that substantially no dopant in the silicon
is present at a distance of 20 nm from a location of the peak
dopant concentration in the substrate, at a distance of 10 nm from
a location of a peak dopant concentration in the substrate, at a
distance of 7 nm from a location of the peak dopant concentration
in the substrate, or at a distance of 5 nm from the a location of
the peak dopant concentration in the substrate. In an illustrative
embodiment, the arsenic atoms may diffuse into the body of the
substrate such that a location of the peak concentration of arsenic
is achieved at a depth within a range of about 0.5 nm to about 9 nm
and substantially no arsenic is present at a depth of about 3 nm to
about 10 nm from a location of the peak arsenic concentration. In
another illustrative embodiment, the arsenic atoms may diffuse into
the body of the substrate to a depth within a range of about 1 nm
to about 5 nm.
[0060] In an embodiment, adding the dopant to the body of the
substrate may include an anneal process. In some cases, the anneal
process may be conducted in an inert gas, such as nitrogen or
argon, environment. In one embodiment, the anneal process may have
a duration of at least 10 milliseconds, at least 0.5 seconds, at
least 4 seconds, at least 20 seconds, at least 30 seconds, or at
least 45 seconds. In another embodiment, the anneal process may
have a duration of no greater than 135 seconds, no greater than 100
seconds, no greater than 75 seconds, or no greater than 50 seconds.
In an illustrative embodiment, the anneal process can have a
duration within a range of about 10 seconds to about 90 seconds,
within a range of about 25 seconds to about 75 seconds, or within a
range of about 30 seconds to about 60 seconds. In another
illustrative embodiment, the anneal process may have a duration
within a range of about 10 milliseconds to about 700
milliseconds.
[0061] In an additional embodiment, the anneal process may be
conducted at a temperature of at least 600.degree. C., at least
750.degree. C., at least 900.degree. C., or at least 1000.degree.
C. In a further embodiment, the anneal process may be conducted at
a temperature of no greater than about 1200.degree. C., no greater
than about 1125.degree. C., or no greater than about 1050.degree.
C. In an illustrative embodiment, the anneal process may be
conducted at a temperature within a range of about 800.degree. C.
to about 1150.degree. C. or within a range of about 900.degree. C.
to about 1050.degree. C.
[0062] In some cases, prior to the annealing operation, a capping
layer may be applied to the surface of the substrate. The capping
layer may overlie the arsenic-containing compounds bonded to atoms
of the substrate. In one embodiment, the capping layer may include
SiO.sub.2. In another embodiment, the capping layer can include
silicon oxide formed using a plasma enhanced
tetraethyl-orthosilicate process. In another embodiment, the
capping layer can include silicon oxide formed with a liquid
spin-on dielectric material. In some cases, the capping layer may
have a thickness of at least 10 nm, at least 25 nm, or at least 40
nm. In other situations, the capping layer may have a thickness no
greater than about 100 nm, no greater than about 80 nm, or no
greater than about 60 nm. In an illustrative embodiment, the
capping layer may have a thickness within a range of about 15 nm to
about 55 nm or within a range of about 25 nm to about 45 nm. In a
particular embodiment, after annealing of the substrate, the
capping layer may be removed. For example, the capping layer may be
removed by contacting the capping layer with a solution of dilute
hydrofluoric acid.
[0063] Although the process 100 includes operations described with
respect to blocks 102-108, in some cases, the process 100 can
include additional operations. To illustrate, once the dopant has
been added to the substrate, one or more additional operations can
be performed to form a semiconductor device that includes
ultra-shallow junctions formed from the doped substrate. In another
illustration, the substrate may be contacted with a material that
blocks some silicon atoms at the surface of the substrate from
forming a bond with the arsenic-containing compound. In a
particular situation, the blocking compounds may include reactive
moieties that are analogous to those found on the
arsenic-containing compound, but the blocking compounds do not
include a dopant atom or atoms themselves.
[0064] In other cases, the process 100 may include fewer
operations. For example, in an embodiment, the operations described
with respect to 104 may be removed from the process 100 and the
substrate can be contacted with the dopant solution without first
modifying the surface of the substrate. Additionally, it should be
noted that portions of the surfaces of the substrates described
with respect to the process 100 may include exposed atoms of the
substrate, such as exposed silicon atoms and/or exposed germanium
atoms, while other portions of the surfaces of the substrate may be
covered with particular materials, such as photoresist. Further,
the order in which the operations of the process 100 are described
is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of
the described operations can be combined in any order and/or in
parallel to implement the process 100. In still further
embodiments, although in some situations, the dopant solution may
be described as including a solvent, in other cases, the dopant
solution may not include a solvent.
[0065] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate 200 having
silicon atoms at a surface that can undergo one or more embodiments
of processes described herein. In a particular embodiment, the
silicon atoms at the surface of the substrate 200 may not yet have
been subjected to any processes to modify the surface of the
substrate 200 as described herein. In an illustrative embodiment,
the substrate 200 may illustrate the terminal bonding of silicon
atoms at the surface of the substrate 200 when exposed to an air
environment. Although not illustrated in FIG. 2, the silicon atoms
at the surface of the substrate 200 may be bonded to each other, to
other atoms of the substrate, or a combination thereof.
[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate 300 having
silicon atoms at a surface that have been subjected to one or more
embodiments of processes described herein. In one embodiment, the
substrate 300 may illustrate the terminal bonding of silicon atoms
at the surface of the substrate after being subjected to a surface
modification process, such as a hydrogen termination process or a
silanol formation process, as described herein.
[0067] FIG. 4 illustrates an additional embodiment of a substrate
400 having silicon atoms at a surface that have been subjected to
one or more embodiments of processes described herein. In the
illustrative embodiment of FIG. 4, a portion of the silicon atoms
at the surface of the substrate 400 are bonded to hydrogen atoms,
while a number of other atoms at the surface of the substrate 400
are not hydrogenated. In one embodiment, the partial hydrogenation
of the atoms at the surface of the substrate 400 may be due to the
exposure of the hydrogenated substrate 300 of FIG. 3 to an air
environment. In another embodiment, the partial hydrogenation of
the atoms at the surface of the substrate 400 may be due to the
incomplete reaction of atoms at the surface of the substrate 400
during a hydrogen termination process. In another embodiment, the
partial hydrogenation may be a result of exposing a hydrogen
terminated surface to an oxidizing liquid. In yet another
embodiment, the partial hydrogenation may be a result of the
presence of dissolved oxygen in the hydrogen termination solution.
In a further embodiment, the partial hydrogenation may be a result
of exposing the hydrogen terminated surface to deionized water that
contains dissolved oxygen. Combinations of any or all of the above
steps are also possible to form partial hydrogenation.
[0068] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate 500 having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to an arsenic-containing compound
(illustrated as "As" in FIG. 5). In one embodiment, the silicon
atoms at the surface of the substrate may be bonded directly to an
As atom of the arsenic-containing compound. In another embodiment,
the silicon atoms at the surface of the substrate may be bonded to
atoms of the arsenic-containing compound other than the As atom or
atoms of the arsenic-containing compound. In a particular
embodiment, the substrate 500 may have been contacted with one or
more of the dopant solutions described herein, such as via the
processes described with respect to operation 106 of FIG. 1.
[0069] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate 600 having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to multiple layers of an
arsenic-containing compound (illustrated as "As" in FIG. 6). In a
particular embodiment, the substrate 600 may represent the
substrate 500 of FIG. 5 after being subjected to an additional
process of contacting the substrate 500 with one or more of the
dopant solutions described herein.
[0070] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate 700 having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to a blocking molecule
(illustrated as "B" in FIG. 7). In some cases, to control the
concentration of the dopant in the substrate 700, a substrate, such
as the substrate 200 of FIG. 2, the substrate 300 of FIG. 3, or the
substrate 400 of FIG. 4, can be subjected to one or more processes
to bond blocking molecules with a portion of the silicon atoms at
the surface of the substrate. In an embodiment, the blocking
molecules may not form a bond with one or more of the
arsenic-containing compounds described herein under the process
conditions described herein. In a particular embodiment, the
blocking compounds may include reactive moieties that are analogous
to those found on the arsenic-containing compound, but do not
include a dopant atom or atoms themselves. Some examples of
blocking molecules include alpha olefins, terminal alkynes,
carboxylic esters, acyl halides, isocyanates, or combinations
thereof.
[0071] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate 800 having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to a linking moiety (illustrated
as "L" in FIG. 8). In one embodiment, the linking moiety may be
bonded to silicon atoms at the surface of a substrate, such as the
substrate 200 of FIG. 2, the substrate 300 of FIG. 3, or the
substrate 400 of FIG. 4, by subjecting the substrate to one or more
of the processes described with respect to operation 104 in FIG. 1
to treat the surface of the substrate to produce a modified surface
of the substrate.
[0072] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a substrate 900 having
silicon atoms at a surface bonded to a linking moiety (illustrated
as "L" in FIG. 9) and an arsenic-containing compound (illustrated
as "As" in FIG. 9) is bonded to the linking moiety. In one
embodiment, the arsenic-containing compound may be bonded to the
linking moiety by one of the processes described herein with
respect to operation 106 of FIG. 1.
[0073] Substrates formed according to embodiments herein may have
certain advantages over the state of the art. In particular,
substrates formed according to embodiments described herein may
have a more uniform distribution of dopant atoms than the
distribution provided by conventional processes, such as ion
implantation. Additionally, the concentration of the dopant in the
substrate can be controlled by using blocking molecules or by using
multiple layers of arsenic-containing compounds bonded to atoms of
the surface of the substrate. Furthermore, the depth of the
diffusion of the dopant atoms can be controlled such that
semiconductor devices with ultra-shallow junctions less than 14 nm
can be formed. In some cases, the ultra-shallow junctions may be
formed due to the decreased damage to the substrate prior to the
annealing process, which may limit transient enhanced diffusion
that is often present when conventional doping techniques, such as
ion implantation or knock-in processes are utilized.
[0074] Although the subject matter has been described in language
specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is
to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended
claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts
described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as
exemplary forms of implementing the claims.
[0075] The concepts described herein will be further described in
the following examples, which do not limit the scope of the
disclosure described in the claims.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
[0076] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00032##
is formed when about 3.047 g (22 mmol) of cacodylic acid and about
2.32 g (22 mmol) of diethanolamine are suspended in about 60 mL of
toluene and heated to reflux with azeotropic removal of water using
a Dean-Stark apparatus under an atmosphere of nitrogen for about 16
hours. After cooling to about 18-25.degree. C., the toluene is
removed in vacuo to produce a substance including the composition
of matter. The substance appears as a red oil and 1H NMR analysis
shows the substance to have residual impurities, such as toluene
and diethanolamine.
Example 2
[0077] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00033##
is formed when about 2.875 g of cacodylic acid and about 2.77 g of
iminodiacetic acid are suspended in 60 mL of toluene in a 100 mL
round-bottomed flask fitted with a 10 mL Dean-Stark trap, a
nitrogen bubbler and a magnetic stirrer. The mixture is heated at
reflux for about 18 hours via oil bath with azeotropic removal of
about 0.7 mL-about 0.8 mL of water. After cooling to room
temperature, the toluene is removed in vacuo to form a substance
that appears as a colorless crystalline solid. 1HNMR (dmso d6)
analysis indicates that the composition of matter is formed in
near-quantitative yield with 4.916 g being isolated.
Example 3
[0078] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00034##
is formed when about 1.741 g of allylarsonic acid and about 2.479 g
of pinacol are suspended in about 60 mL of toluene and heated at
reflux with azeotropic removal of water overnight. Gravity
filtration of a small amount of suspension and removal of the
toluene in vacuo from the filtrate produce about 3.6 g of a
substance that appears as a colorless oil.
Example 4
[0079] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00035##
is formed when about 6.1 g of (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)arsonic acid
and about 6.13 g of 3-(alloxy)propane-1,2-diol are suspended in
about 60 mL of toluene and heated to reflux with the azeotropic
removal of water for about 16 hours. After cooling, the toluene is
removed in vacuo to give about 11 g of a substance that includes
the composition of matter. The substance appears as a yellow
oil.
Example 5
[0080] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00036##
is formed when about 4.36 g of 4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid and
about 4.73 g of pinacol are refluxed together in about 80 mL of
toluene for about 16 hours with removal of the water using a
Dean-Stark trap. The toluene is removed in vacuo to produce about
7.47 g of a pale yellow crystalline solid.
Example 6
[0081] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00037##
is formed when about 0.52 g of the bis-pinacol adduct of
phenol-4-arsonic acid from Example 5 is treated with about 0.39 g
of potassium carbonate and about 1 mL of allyl bromide in about 5
mL of dimethylformamide and swirled briefly. The mixture is allowed
to stand at about 18.degree. C. to about 25.degree. C. for about a
week. About 3-5 mLs of glacial acetic acid are then added to the
mixture with a few drops of 33% HBr in HOAc. Water is added to
precipitate the product as colorless needles. The needles are
filtered and washed with a little aqueous ethanol. The yield is
about 0.40 g after drying in air on the suction filter for about 16
hours.
Example 7
[0082] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00038##
is formed when about 2.70 g (6.74 mmol) of the bis-pinacol adduct
of phenol-4-arsonic acid of Example 5, about 1.66 g (12.01 mmol) of
potassium carbonate, and about 0.725 mL (7.66 mmol) of methyl
bromoacetate are stirred by magnetic stirrer together in about 10.5
mL of anhydrous dimethylformamide overnight. The heterogeneous
mixture is diluted with about 20 mL of glacial acetic acid and
treated with a few drops of 33% HBr in HOAc. About 80 mL of water
is added and the mixture is stirred briefly. The resulting
colorless precipitate is removed by vacuum filtration, and washed
with a water/ethanol mixture to yield 1.95 g of a substance
including the composition of matter after drying.
Example 8
[0083] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00039##
is formed when about 3.32 g of allyarsonic acid and about 4.16 g of
hydroxyisobutyric acid are refluxed under N.sup.2 overnight in
about 60 mL of toluene with azeotropic removal of water using a
Dean/Stark trap. After removal of solvent, the product is isolated
as about 5.55 g of colorless crystals. Another 250 mg is recovered
after re-dissolving a remainder from the original flask and
evaporation in a smaller vessel.
Example 9
[0084] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00040##
is formed when about 4.05 g (18.66 mmol) of p-arsinilic acid is
slurried in about 40 mL of absolute ethanol and about 4.45 g (22.41
mmol) of solid methyl terephthaloyl chloride is added to the
mixture. The mixture is stirred at room temperature, with perhaps a
very, very mild exothermic reaction upon addition/dissolution of
the acid chloride. Upon complete dissolution in about 5 min, about
1-3 mL of water is added dropwise and the product precipitates as a
colorless powder. The precipitate is removed by suction filtration
and dried on the filter for about 16 hours to yield about 3.96 g of
the product. Two more crops of about 0.9 g and about 1.1 g of the
product are recovered. A 1HNMR analysis indicates that the
additional crops have a small amount of contamination of
p-arsinilic acid.
Example 10
[0085] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00041##
is formed when about 3 g of phenylarsonic acid and about 2.79 g of
2-amino-2-methylpropan-1-ol are suspended in about 60 mL of toluene
and heated to reflux with the azeotropic removal of water for about
16 hours. After cooling, the toluene is removed in vacuo to produce
about 4.83 g of the desired adduct as a colorless, but slightly
sticky, crystalline solid. The solid is re-slurried in about 60 mL
of hexanes at room temperature, and then subject to suction
filtration on a coarse frit by washing three times on the filter
with about 20 mL of hexanes for each wash. After drying, the
desired compound is isolated as about 4.03 g of colorless
crystals.
Example 11
[0086] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00042##
is formed when about 1.707 g of allylarsonic acid and about 1.93 g
of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol are suspended in about 60 mL of
toluene and heated at reflux under nitrogen with azeotropic removal
of water for about 16 hours. After cooling, the toluene is removed
in vacuo to produce about 3 g of a semi-solid off-white residue.
The residue is boiled briefly in about 60 mL of hexanes, and, after
cooling to about 18-25.degree. C., near-colorless needles are
formed, collected by suction filtration and washed with hexanes to
yield about 1.15 g of the product.
Example 12
[0087] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00043##
is formed when at room temperature, about 0.5 g (0.445 mL, 2.414
mmol, 1.1 equivalents) of tris(dimethylamino)arsine (TDMA), is
added to about 10 mL dry hexane in a 25 mL round-bottom flask, and
then about 0.29 g (0.27 mL, 2.19 mmol, 1.0 equivalents) of
3-(allyloxy)propane-1,2-diol is added dropwise into the system. The
mixture is heated to reflux under nitrogen for about one hour, and
then cooled to room temperature. Removal of the solvent in vacuum
gives crude
4-((allyloxy)methyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxarsolan-2-amine as an
oil.
Example 13
[0088] A composition of matter having the chemical formula:
##STR00044##
is formed when about 0.47 g (4.5 mmol, 1.0 equivalents) of
2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diol is added to about 15 mL hexane, and
then about 1.04 g (0.92 mL, 5.0 mmol, 1.1 equivalents) of
tris(dimethylamino)arsine (TDMA) is added dropwise to the flask.
The mixture is heated to reflux under nitrogen for about 1.5 hours,
and then cooled to room temperature. Removal of the solvent in
vacuum gives crude N,N,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxarsinan-2-amine as
an oil.
* * * * *